Skēnē 2: Thomas Cole Paintings

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 On Thomas Cole's The Course of Empire paintings 

The Course of Empire paintings are a collection of five stages of society. Cole's other work on a Soul's Journey are a cycle of man. The first stage is The Savage State, or, The Commencement of the Empire. The second, The Arcadian or Pastoral State; Third, the Consummation of Empire; Fourth, Destruction; Fifth, Desolation. 

The Savage State, or, The Commencement of the Empire


The artwork must be viewed from the left to the right: the progress of man starts from an eager individual armed with a bow, then toward the center he will form a group, finally on the right there are huts and smoke to signal the inklings of civilization. The permanence of the boulder oversees the transient man, looming clouds blend in with the rising fumes. All remnants of man shall thus change the face of this Earth. Highlighting the romantic pillar of the Hudson River School, no central figure is present in this painting. 

The Arcadian or Pastoral State

The second mound emerges from the distance, no longer clouded. The scenery shifts ever so slightly to encompass the freshly grown trees and vegetation. Idle and playfulness in the meadows, establishments in the pillared formation rise. The sea's waves subside to give into placid surfaces. The name, pastoral state, meant man taming animals. It also implies that man is taming the environment around him, and in such a manner, he is taming himself from being a savage. 

the Consummation of Empire

I'm a little tired I'll come back to this

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